Acid tank applications

Two complementai y reviews of this subject are by Shah et al. AIChE Journal, 28, 353-379 [1982]) and Deckwer (in de Lasa, ed.. Chemical Reactor Design andTechnology, Martinus Nijhoff, 1985, pp. 411-461). Useful comments are made by Doraiswamy and Sharma (Heterogeneous Reactions, Wiley, 1984). Charpentier (in Gianetto and Silveston, eds.. Multiphase Chemical Reactors, Hemisphere, 1986, pp. 104—151) emphasizes parameters of trickle bed and stirred tank reactors. Recommendations based on the literature are made for several design parameters namely, bubble diameter and velocity of rise, gas holdup, interfacial area, mass-transfer coefficients k a and /cl but not /cg, axial liquid-phase dispersion coefficient, and heat-transfer coefficient to the wall. The effect of vessel diameter on these parameters is insignificant when D > 0.15 m (0.49 ft), except for the dispersion coefficient. Application of these correlations is to (1) chlorination of toluene in the presence of FeCl,3 catalyst, (2) absorption of SO9 in aqueous potassium carbonate with arsenite catalyst, and (3) reaction of butene with sulfuric acid to butanol. 

Anodic Protection This electrochemical method relies on an external potential control system (potentiostat) to maintain the metal or alloy in a noncorroding (passive) condition. Practical applications include acid coolers in sulfuric acid plants and storage tanks for sulfuric acid. 

A platform was being constructed from one storage tank to another, without the workers knowing that mixture of benzoic acid and air in the open storage tank could explode. DSM is the largest European producer of benzoic acid which is used in a range of applications from a pla.sttcizcf to food preservative. DSM s capacity here is 440 million lb per year. 

Although the first industrial application of anodic protection was as recent as 1954, it is now widely used, particularly in the USA and USSR. This has been made possible by the recent development of equipment capable of the control of precise potentials at high current outputs. It has been applied to protect mild-steel vessels containing sulphuric acid as large as 49 m in diameter and 15 m high, and commercial equipment is available for use with tanks of capacities from 38 000 to 7 600000 litre . A properly designed anodic-protection system has been shown to be both effective and economically viable, but care must be taken to avoid power failure or the formation of local active-passive cells which lead to the breakdown of passivity and intense corrosion. 

Chemical-resistant Highest chemical resistance of polyester group excellent acid resistance, fair in alkalies. Corrosion-resistant applications, such as pipe, tanks, ducts, fume stacks. 

Types of wood and their chemical resistance and physical characteristics are reviewed, including examples showing the manufacture of typical tank and pipe construction. In-service case histories are included. While this coverage takes you from the Forest to the plants making acetic acid, that is beyond the need for most users it is hoped that the reader becomes aware that this product family is the only MOC for several CPI applications and is a competitive choice over some quite exotic materials, e.g., titanium, in others. 

In the application of the previous chemical methods, a certain amount of steady-state continuity has been built into the system. To accomplish this, initial concentrated alkaline and acid rinse wastewaters are retained after dumping in the waste holding tank [T-91] (Figure 6.4) and acid chromium plating wastewater is stored in the waste holding tank [T-51], Extremely concentrated chromium plating wastewater from rinse step No. 1 is sent to an evaporation tank [T-40] for... 

Reflectance measurements provided an excellent means for building an ammonium ion sensor involving immobilization of a colorimetric acid-base indicator in the flow-cell depicted schematically in Fig. 3.38.C. The cell was furnished with a microporous PTFE membrane supported on the inner surface of the light window. The detection limit achieved was found to depend on the constant of the immobilized acid-base indicator used it was lO M for /7-Xylenol Blue (pAT, = 2.0). The response time was related to the ammonium ion concentration and ranged from 1 to 60 min. The sensor remained stable for over 6 months and was used to determine the analyte in real samples consisting of purified waste water, which was taken from a tank where the water was collected for release into the mimicipal waste water treatment plant. Since no significant interference fi-om acid compounds such as carbon dioxide or acetic acid was encountered, the sensor proved to be applicable to real samples after pH adjustment. The ammonium concentrations provided by the sensor were consistent with those obtained by ion chromatography, a spectrophotometric assay and an ammonia-selective electrode [269]. 

Acid cleaners based on sulfamic acid are used in a large variety of applications, eg, air-conditioning systems marine equipment, including salt water stills wells (water, oil, and gas) household equipment, eg, copper-ware, steam irons, humidifiers, dishwashers, toilet bowls, and brick and other masonry tartar removal of false teeth (50) dairy equipment, eg, pasteurizers, evaporators, preheaters, and storage tanks industrial boilers, condensers, heat exchangers, and preheaters food-processing equipment brewery equipment (see Beer) sugar evaporators and paper-mill equipment (see also Evaporation Metal surface treatments Pulp). 

Anodic passivation and its application to sulfuric acid equipment such as stainless steel acid coolers and carbon steel storage tanks has been well studied (102—104). More recendy, shell and tube coolers made from Sandvik SX or Saramet have been installed in several acid plants. These materials do not require anodic protection. 

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